The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-11-13
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fThs %. Frs.eisoe vissie.se Ce.-atsss Z
1859.
Mr.. H. II. BANCROFT. the author Of tn
Historv Of he Psolfo Stdtss. now In course Q
publication tSan Francisoo, the History Co.
has devoted his two latest volumes to an %
count OF the popular tribunals which, OWN
70 the shortcomings In tho normal machiner
of Justice. we're from time TO time establishet
In tho States and Territories west OF tn
Rocky Mountains OF these volumes. the drst
which appeared some months ago. was sllottet
70 the Ban Francisco Vigilance Committee o.
1851. and 10 the minor organizations which. In
outlying settlements, wero called into beina
By its example. Tho volume now before ~
was reserved for the exhibition OF the acts Of
the much moro famous tribunal which the citi-
kens OF San Francisco substituted for the ordi-
nary law courts In 1856.
There had been. a. Mr.. Bancroft shows "a
In somo preliminary chapters, no diininution
Of crinae In San Francisco after the terror ex-
eited By the committee Of 1851 had spent its
force. but there had boon marked change IN
The methods Of criminals At the earlier epoch
khey had defied the law. but they had now
learned how to paralyso its arm By controlling
It's administrators At the primary meeting
and the ballot boz they laid broad and solid
Pasls 10. enoil oepfoosuonS On y. .ho evnnunis y.
ourSier or mulu s,'s ~ spp1 81 N
sne sot' no ionsef 'fouoieu hilnsen W rvsiss ar
sost OF osespo Hom inprlsonlnen ny, ano po-
FRESHMAN 1uo e0.hou NM .ue onorM upon
Mnose eo'ooIoM uoponuou ,ne ooiupo'...o~ v.
Jug 'S,s' eiu sno suuko wiz wes '" VIZ nii'A
' oion'os enu nio 'io"s'oe'
Inc jail was place OF refuge the court room
epiaoe OF reaempuon. Inore was ABSOLUTELY
20 post IN tho whole administrative ana Judi
clai hierarchy rom thas OF Governor or
United states Senator to that OF inspec-
tors az primary meetine' which crime
couid not approach and influence In
snousana suptie ways what passed LOT pup-
no OPINION renecteo notninR out the interests
und oeeigns OF raecals; tho virtue, tho prooity'
tho conscience OF the community seemed 10
Possess no voice; tho wnoie press OF ban iran
I. clsco' with the exception OF single newspaper
. Was muAzlea oy intimioalion or oeDsucneo oy
pt'Dely. 1he sinRie exception was inc Eoe"'hV
Ca"et"' epspor owhea ana eo1ea " mi: Samos
e'nG, ana IL was inc deterininat'on OF the law
breakers 10 stine the one remaining mouth
Disco OF decency and recttude py Kings a..
sassination tnat oahea iorth tue vast istens
torces Oh socioty' anu proouceo tho mora
In the 6uAet"' OF May H. MI King had
alluded to the notorious TACT that ono James
yasey' the propr1etor OF the SUNDAY Times. ana
VINO had lately been elected Supervisor through
me ballot stunning carried out BY tho blackleg,
sankee sullivan. was uischarRed CONVICT VINO
paa done the state OF New York service In Sing
Ding prison. lew hours after tho appearance
Of the paper. the editor was shot by Casey In
montgomery street not far from the Bank Ex-
ohanse' ana died SIX days later. with eoua-
nlm1ty and perfect faith In impunity Casey
suffered some OF the bystanders, who Wero his
personal friends to lead him quietly to jail.
which, from Casey's point OF view. was an asy-
fum rom possible outburst OF popular vto-
!ence. Inc 'auer VINO would detain him' and
the judge before whom he expected to be
erraigned. were among bis trusted hiendA
His calculations were entirely justified BY his
experience out No had not counted on
sudden revival OF the vigilance Committee.
On the very evening after the shooting OF King
William i. Coleman. member OF the Com
mittee OF Thirteen. to which on disbsnding
the original committee OF 1851 had transmitted
certain powers. Issued call convoking for tho
following morning all respectable citizens dis
posed TO organize popular tribunal At this
meeting an executive committee OF twelve
va onosen' ana mi. coleman was MADE ffesi-
oent' 90 numerous ana rapid were sne sppH-
osuonS iof 3oals sno tn1t w & ~ Q" NAY
20 NOT Iess Juan Low men nso Deen onloneo
" eompanles' unu tnese numbers osio.o morn
ing were sweheo 10 AVN. oy ossuIoay' may
~ o'ooo cit,1ehs nao !oinea' ano ~ the acme
VI iss eheiency inc 'isianoe committee OF
1000 consisted Oh one oattalon' Jour companies
OF arthiery' one souadroh' Two troops OF Ora
eoonS' lour Regiments anu tnlrsy-two COM
panies Oh aniantry'i IN al o,ooo men unoer arms
Won oriiiea anu tnorouenls eouippeo WIN inc
neeuiul munitiohs OF war. AZ carry Is may1''
Whi!e hlne was YET ahVe' the commlttee 30
oureo nenuauar'efs on oacramento street,
which were imheola.eiy tortinea' ana were
thereaiter known ~ fors ounnyoass. "hen
snese rooms wore thrown open Iol PUBIC ea.
uipiuon 'ney contained roserVo scock OF i,Soo
muske's. Ioo rihes, $40 ssoros. 90 atsms1
swords iour prass siA-pouhoe1s, TWO iron nine-
pounoets mounted on snip carriages nVo TWO
anu lour Founders ana narness ior some tnirty
norseS' IN this inproViseo sfssnsl inc muir
oarer casey ana ahotner confessed man
unyer, fora WHO nau oeen taken from the jail